Welcome to "An Alaskan Moment" A "moment" is a measure of time... 90 seconds. "An Alaskan Moment" lasts a little longer. Sometimes twice as much. ####################################################### This week in Alaska History: May 17, 1906 - Congress passed the Alaska Native Allotment Act authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to allot 160 acres to Alaska Natives. The land would be inalienable and non-taxable. Administrative interpretations of the law, however, would limit the number of Natives qualifying for the land for nearly three-quarters of a century. May 18, 1937 - Construction of a Navy air base was commenced on Japonski Island, a Navy reserve since 1891. May 19, 1932 - The German armed cruiser Karlsruhe arrived at Juneau on a round-the-world cruise. May 20, 1909 - Walter Eli Clark was appointed the 7th governor of the District of Alaska. In 1912 he became the first governor of the Territory of Alaska. May 21, 1913 - John F. A. Strong was appointed the 8th governor of Alaska, the first man appointed to the position after Alaska became a territory. In 1918, soon after he was reappointed to the office, he was asked to resign when it was disclosed that he was still a Canadian citizen. May 22, 1906 - A devastating fire swept through the Fairbanks business district. May 23, 1935 - Officials held a drawing at the newly established Matanuska Colony to award the first 200 tracts to the settlers of this government-sponsored relief and development project. This week in Alaska History compiled by Robert N. DeArmond of Sitka
Courtesy of the Alaska Historical Society ####################################################### "An Alaskan Moment" is produced at Aleutian Peninsula Broadcasting in Sand Point apradio.org Music by Paul Holmberg With help from NAMES OF FOLKS WHO READ HISTORY & POETRY. And especially you, the supporters of Public Radio. ####################################################### Now for your poem. Today's poem is found in the book "Hunger & Dreams: The Alaskan Women's Anthology", edited by Patricia Monaghan. Published by Fireweed Press in Fairbanks, 1983. BEGIN POEM ####################################################### Today's poem is found in the book "A Good Crew: An Alaskan Men's Anthology", edited by Roland Wilbert and Larry Laraby. Published by Fireweed Press in Fairbanks, 1986. BEGIN POEM